Artificial limb socket or boot



Feb. 23, 1954 E. s. RITCHIE ARTIFICIAL LIMB SOCKET OR BOOT Filed March 16, 1953 INVENTOR EDMOND S. RITCHIE ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL LINEB SOCKET R BOOT Edmond S. Ritchie, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Application March 16, 1953, Serial No. 342319 6 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in artiiicial limb sockets or boots.

The objects of the invention are to provide a boot or socket which is so fitted to the amputationthat it will remain in position on the stump andthe upper member ofthe limb against all normal pulling strains without the necessity of a harness about the upper: member and/or straps extending from the boot or harness around the trunk of the wearer.

The invention is adapted particularly for use on the stump of a forearm though it can be used effectively on the stump of a shin. Amongst the advantages of the device, especially in use on the forearm stump is the total absence of discomfort from straps encompassing the body, tightly bound bands encompassing the muscles of the upper arm, hinge joints and other parts bearing uncomfortably upon the arm above the knuckle or elbow joint. The device is designed to fit comfortably in position and to prevent friction being developed which may cause sweating or soreness to the wearer. A still further advantage is that the wearer can with perfect freedom move the limb about its normal axis or swing it angularly to the upper arm to any desired position from a prone position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inner side of the invention as designed for the left forearm.

Figure 2 is a perspective view looking up at the elbow.

Figure 3 is a perspective view looking somewhat downwardly and showing the outside of the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view looking into the open end of the invention.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

The numeral l indicates generally a socket or boot for a left forearm amputated below the elbow joint which socket is adapted to be fitted at its outer end with a hook structure 2 or artificial hand of any desired kind, and surrounding the adjacent end of the socket is a ferrule 4 having longitudinally extending strips 5 and 6 which are secured to said socket by rivets 8 in the usual manner.

The socket l is preferably of heavy leather and is moulded to fit the stump of the forearm to which it is to be fitted and also to embrace the elbow joint and extend in an angular direction to bear against the back of the upper arm immediately above the joint as at Ill. The open end I2 of the socket is slightly inturned along its rear edge as at H to comfortably grip the bone of the elbow and said socket is provided with a slot 15 having eyelets 16 through which a lace I! is threaded to adjust said socket to a snug fit upon the arm. The slot 15 is covered on the inside with a tongue [8 in the usual manner to prevent the lacing from causing discomfort to the wearer;

A substantially arcuate gap 19 is provided in the periphery of the open end 12 and upon the upper side of the socket to provide space in which the lower part of the upper arm may'move as the elbow joint ismoved as i-nra-isih-g a cup by the artificial hand. The contour of the open end l2 of the socket is maintained in part by a substantially T-shaped member 2| secured on the inner side of the socket, said member having a shank 22 which may be made integral with the strips 5 and a curved head member 23 which extend an appropriate distance around the elbow joint to prevent said joint from slipping out of the socket inadvertently, said shank 22 and head member being appropriately curved to suit the wearer.

On the outer side of the socket and somewhat above its horizontal axis is an elongated leaf spring 26 which is bowed as at 2'! to bear on the edge of the open end l2 adjacent the gap [9 and is so placed as to exert a pressure upon the lower bone of the upper arm as at 28 or that part of the elbow joint which forms the axis about which the lower arm moves relative to the upper arm. Obviously all the parts are so adjusted to fit the particular amputation with comfort and the spring 26 is bowed so that no muscle distention will afiect the point of bearing or the pressure of bearing of the spring end 28.

When the socket has been properly adjusted by the lace H, the T-shaped member 2! and the leaf spring 26, the socket may be freely removed by the wearer flexing his arm to straighten the stump relative to the upper arm and it may with equal ease be replaced by inserting the stump in straightened position back into the socket.

It is found that the normal arm is very rarely straightened out and that the forearm is generally crooked to from five to fifteen degrees and since the socket is designed to fit the arm when said arm is in its normal position of rest, the socket cannot be pulled off from the elbow joint and no tightness need be applied to the socket or the lacing. The leaf spring 26 serves also to prevent any rotational movement of the socket about the upper arm since the grip of the socket is applied by the angular portion In and the in- 3 turned edges [4 are brought to bear on the elbow joint in substantially the same direction as the pull on the socket or artificial hand.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A socket for an artificial limb comprising a hollow body moulded to form a stump enclosing portion and a joint engaging portion, said joint engaging portion extending around both sides and across said joint from one side to the other and being set at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the stump enclosing portion, said hollow body having an open end through which the stump and part of the joint are adapted to be inserted.

2. A socket for an artificial limb comprising a hollow body moulded to form a stump enclosing portion and a joint engaging portion, said joint engaging portion extending around both sides and across said joint from one side to the other and being set at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the stump enclosing portion, said hollow body having an open end through which the stump and part of the joint are adapted to be inserted, the open end of the joint engaging portion of the hollow body having an inturned edge adapted to bear upon the joint to prevent movement of the hollow body lengthwise of the stump away from said joint.

3. A socket for an artificial limb as claimed in claim 1, said joint engaging portion having a substantially rigid curved member adjacent the open end and to one side of the hollow body and a spring member carried on the stump enclosing portion for urging the curved member inwardly towards the joint.

4. A socket for an artificial limb as claimed in claim 1, and means secured to the stump enclosing portion of the hollow body and extending to apply pressure to the joint to prevent rotation of the hollow body about the longitudinal axis of the limb above the joint.

5. A socket for an artificial limb as claimed in claim 1, said stump enclosing portion having a spring projecting in the direction of the open end and adapted to bear upon a side of the joint in the region of the axis-about which the stump swings.

6. A socket for an artificial limb comprising a hollow body moulded to form a stump enclosing portion and a joint engaging portion, said joint engaging portion extending around both sides and across said joint from one side to the other and being set at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the stump enclosing portion, said hollow body having an open end through which the stump and part of the joint are adapted to be inserted, a spring leaf extending longitudinally of the stump enclosing portion, said spring leaf having a bowed portion adjacent its free end, the free end of said spring being directed to bear upon a side of the hollow body adjacent the open end and exert a localized pressure on the joint substan tially in line with its horizontal axis.

EDMOND S. RITCHIE.

No references cited. 

